Ravines Wine Cellar - Agricolāe Estate Savagnin 2024

Ravines Wine Cellars was founded by Morten and Lisa Hallgren, a European-trained winemaker and his chef wife who set out to make distinctly dry, terroir-driven wines in the Finger Lakes. Morten grew up among the vineyards of Provence and arrived in New York with a deep Old World perspective, eventually pioneering a style of bone-dry, mineral-driven Riesling that helped reshape perceptions of what Finger Lakes wine could be. Today, Ravines farms more than 130 acres of sustainably managed estate vineyards on Seneca and Keuka Lakes, with limestone and shale soils, steep slopes and exceptional natural drainage. The wines are made with a transparent, classical approach designed to preserve the character of the vineyard and vintage showcasing some of the finest wines of the Finger Lakes region.

Agricolāe is Ravines’ distinctly Keuka Lake expression — a self-contained farm winery built around a remarkable property whose original vineyards date to the 1970s. Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Noir, Cayuga, Vignoles and Noiret planted during those early years remain today, joined by newer plantings of Gamay Noir, Savagnin and Cabernet Franc. The vineyards occupy steep slopes above the deepest part of Keuka Lake, where poor, rocky shale soils naturally restrict vine vigor while the lake provides protection and a long growing season. The result is an ideal setting for the cool-climate qualities that define the Finger Lakes: crystalline aromatics, lively acidity, mineral definition and remarkable freshness. The name Agricolāe is a tribute to the people who tend these vineyards — a reminder that before wine is made, there is the demanding agricultural work of planting, pruning, cultivating and harvesting.

One of the most intriguing wines in the Agricolāe lineup, this Savagnin offers a fascinating combination of freshness and depth, beginning with an aromatic impression of citrus and ripe orchard fruit before unfolding into yellow apple, lemon peel and subtle honeyed tones. On the palate, bright acidity and a distinctly saline, mineral character give the wine energy, while notes of almond and spice add an unexpected layer of complexity. This Savagnin remains fresh and vibrant while showing a broader, more textured side of this still-unusual Finger Lakes varietal. It is particularly well suited to aged goat cheeses, creamy mushroom dishes, seafood stew, roasted poultry or grilled pork chops.